Comprehension Toolkit

Text purpose 2

Text purpose 2
Text purpose 2
Comprehension Toolkit
Text purpose 2

Comprehension means understanding.

The best way to
understand a text is to
ask yourself questions
as you read it.
The answers to some
questions are easy to find,
while the answers to others
are more difficult to work out.
Comprehension Toolkit
Text purpose 1

Why does a writer write?

A writer’s purpose might be to:
entertain persuade
inform debate an issue
instruct sympathise
warn or advise describe
extend an invitation
do several things at once!
Comprehension Toolkit
Text purpose 2

Texts that instruct tell us how to do things.

They include:
recipes instruction manuals “how to” books
In instructive texts, you’ll find:
• commands
• prepositions
• adverbials of manner,
time and place.
Comprehension Toolkit
Text purpose 2

This is part of a recipe for cookies.

Its purpose is to instruct.
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180 ° Celsius.
2. Beat butter and brown sugar with electric beaters until well
combined. Add the eggs and beat well after each addition.
3. Sift together plain flour and baking powder and mix into the
butter mixture. Stir in choc bits.

What type of sentences are they? commands

They start with
How do we know the sentences are commands? imperative verbs.
Which words are prepositions?
Which phrase is an adverbial of manner?
Which phrase is an adverbial of time?
Which phrase is an adverbial of place?
Comprehension Toolkit
Text purpose 2

Texts that persuade try to convince us to believe or

do things. Examples of persuasive texts are advertisements and
political speeches. In persuasive texts you can expect to find:
• catchphrases and slogans
• repetition of key words, phrases and ideas
• words with appealing sounds, such as rhyme, onomatopoeia
and alliteration
• emotive language (language that appeals to our emotions)
• figurative language, such as similes and metaphors
• exaggerated language (also known as hyperbole)
• rhetorical questions
• question and answer structures
• use of the personal pronoun you, so that people believe they
are being addressed directly
• modal verbs and adverbs.
Comprehension Toolkit
Text purpose 2

This is an extract from a speech.

Its purpose is to persuade people.
I definitely think the Council has made a mistake in planning high-rise
developments for our suburb. Such high-rise developments might
bring more people into the area, but that means more cars, and
exhaust fumes from cars are one of the main causes of air pollution in
urban areas. So not only will we be living in a gloomy suburb that
hardly ever sees the sun, but we will also be forced to breathe
polluted air, and that could lead to health problems. And where are all
those cars going to park? Our suburb is already overflowing with cars.
Which words, phrases or ideas are repeated?
Find examples of emotive language.
Find examples of exaggerated language.
Find a rhetorical question.
Comprehension Toolkit
Text purpose 2

These are extracts from advertisements.

Their purpose is to persuade people to buy certain products.
At Medicor
Find a simile. Try new LifeForce clinics we put
Find a metaphor. and feel you first.
as right as rain! Because we care.
Find a direct address.
Find a catchphrase or slogan. Swamped by too many
A choices?
Find an example of rhyme. Choc-o-lot We’ll help you find the
a day keeps the right mobile for your
Find examples of alliteration. blues away. lifestyle.
Find a rhetorical question.
Golden Grain
– the bread with the
crunchy crust
Comprehension Toolkit
Text purpose 2

The End